Resilient support for the firing control mechanism of a marine mine



J. D. TURLAY RESILIENT SUPPORT FOR THE FIRING CONTROL Jan. 10, 1950.

MECHANISM OF A MARINE MINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 29, 1942 JOSEPH D. TURLAY Jan. 10, 1950 J. D. TURLAY RESILIENT SUPPORT FOR THE FIRING CONTROL MECHANISM OF A MARINE MINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 29, 1942 gnaw/whoa J. D. TURLAY RESILIENT SUPPORT FOR THE FIRING CONTROL Jan. 10, 1950 MECHANISM OF A MARINE MINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 29, 1942 gwumm JOSEPH D. TURLAY Fatented jan. 1Q, 1956 RESILIENT SUPPORT FOR THE FIRING. GON- TROL MECHANISM OF A MARIN-5E .MINE

19 Claims.

amended April- 30', 1928; 370-0. G. 757') This invention relates to shock absorbing means for a marine mine and more specifically to means for resiliently supporting a mass such as a mine firing control mechanism within the casing of a mine whereby the mine firing mechanism is protected from damage or injury as the result of the violent shock received as the mine is launched from an attaching craft.

It is well known that marine mines may be planted from an aircraft in flight at varying degrees of altitude, a parachute usually being employed' with the mine when dropped from a relatively high altitude, or the mine may be launched from a vessel known in the art as a mine layer or from the torpedo tube of a submarine. In any event the mine usually receives a shock upon striking the surface of the water or when launched from a torpedo tube, as the case may be, and, when launched from an airplane at a considerable altitude the mine is also subjected to an additional shock as the parachute opens during the downward flight of the mine from the aircraft. When the mine strikes the bed of a body of water still another shock is received.

In devices heretofore proposed for absorbing the force of the shock of impact of the mine sufficiently to protect the mine firing mechanism from damage as the result of the shock it is the usual practice to enclose the mine firing mechanism within a relatively large rubber pad or cushion arranged within the casing of the mine and thus a considerable quantity of rubber is employed in the construction of each mine.

The resilient support of the present invention possesses all of the advantages of the prior devices employed for this purpose and in addition provides a resilient structure in which the suspended mass is yieldably supported by an arrangement of springs and cables thereby replacing the rubber pad or cushion heretofore employed and thus the rubber of which the pad is composed may be released for other purposes such, for example, as for use in the construction of rubber tires for vehicles and aircraft connected with the armed forces, and in the construction of treads for tanks, tractors and the like.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a new and improved resilient support particularly adapted for use with a marine mine whereby the mine firing mechanism is yieldably 5 2 I vided with a pluralityof' hook members or eyes connected thereto Within which is slideably arranged two fi'exble cables connected. at intervals to a cylindrical member within which the mine firing mechanism is yieldably arranged and maintained in tension by a plurality of main supporting springs secured to the cylindrical membet and a plurality of springs adapted to urge the inner end of the supporting springs toward the center of the cylindrical member. An arrangement is thus provided in which the mine firing mechanism is yieldably supported by the cables and hook members in such a manner'that the mine firing mechanism may be moved in any direction relative to the aforesaid tubular memher when an impulse or shock is received, suiiici'ent tension being applied to the cables by the springs to prevent the mine firing mechanism from striking against the cylindrical member or the end supports therefor.

As the mine firing mechanism moves relative to the cylindrical member the aforesaid cables slide within the hook members secured to' the mine firing mechanism concurrently with an increase in the tension of the cable as certain of the springs are extended selectively in accordance with the direction of movement of the mine firing mechanism'with respect to the initial rest position thereof and thus the friction between the cable and the hook members is varied in accordance with the degree of movement of the mine firing mechan-ism sufliciently to cause the mine firing mechanism to be brought to rest relative to the cylindrical member and restored quickly to the initial position thereof from a moved position resulting from the violent shock which the mine receives at the time of launching. In the arrangement of the present invention the kinetic energy of the mine firing mechanism is dissipated by the combined action of the springs and the frictional movement of the cable within the hook members and the mine firing mechanism is quickly brought to rest within the mine casing without damage or injury thereto as will more clearly appear as the description proceeds.

.One of the objects of thepresent' invention is to provide new andimproved means for protecting a yieldably supported mine firing control mechanism from damage as ashock'is received by the supporting means;

Another of the-objects is to provide a new and improved support for a mine firing control mechanism in which vibrations or oscillations of the mechanism as the result of a shock are quickly attenuated.

Still another object is the provision of new and improved means for quickly decelerating a yieldably suspended control mechanism as a violent shock is received by the support and absorbing the recoil as the control mechanism moves reversely toward an initialv position without damage or injury to the mechanism.

With these and other objects in view, which will become apparent from the following descrip tion of one illustrative embodiment of the invention shown on the accompanying drawings, the invention resides in the novel elements of construction, devices and combination of parts in cooperative relationship, as hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view partially in section and partially broken away of a marine mine having a mine firing mechanism yieldably supported therein by a shock absorbing device in accordance with the present invention:

Fig. 2 is an end view greatly enlarged of the mine firing control mechanism of Fig. 1 and the supporting means therefor removed from the mine casing;

Fig. 3 is a View in elevation, partially in section, taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing the mine control unit in elevation with the near supportingbrackets and bolts therefor removed;

Fig. 4 is a view greatly enlarged of one of the clip or hook devices employed with the present arrangement for supporting the mine firing control mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in elevation of portion of the device of Fig. 4; and, r

Fig. 6 is a view of one of the hook devices taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Referring now to Fig. l of the drawings on which like numerals of reference are employed to designate like parts throughout the several Views, there is shown thereon a marine mine indicated generally by the numeral l adapted to be launched within a body of water from an aircraft in flight, a surface vessel or from the torpedo tube of a submarine while the submarine is submerged, the mine comprising a casing l I having a partition l2 arranged therein to form a chamber within which is inserted an explosive charge suitable for the purpose such, for example, as TNT or the like. A cover I3 is clamped in sealed relation to the casing of the mine as by the screws I4 thereby closing an aperture within the casing within which the explosive charge is introduced. There is also provided within the casing I I at the recessed portion l thereof a detonating device adapted to be extended within the explosive charge by the pressure of the water within which the mine is planted as is well known in the art to which the present invention pertains.

The mine may be of any suitable type such, for example, as the type known as a ground mine in which the mine is adapted to rest on the bed of a body of water or the mine may be a subfioating type adapted to be moored by a cable attached to the eye bolt l6 secured thereto as by the nuts II.

There is also provided within the casing of the mine a plurality of annular spacing members l8 adapted to receive a sleeve or cylindrical support l9 composed preferably of suitable nonmagnetic material such, for example, as aluminum or brass slideably arranged therein and maintained in abutting relation with a plurality of projecting members 2| by the cap 22 secured to the casing of the mine as by the bolts 23 threaded within the annular member 24, a gasket 25 being provided preferably to maintain a watertight connection between the cap and the casing of the mine. The annular member 24, it will be understood, is secured to the casing of the mine in any suitable manner as by welding the parts together. The projecting members 2i are secured to a supporting ring 26 or formed integrally therewith as desired, the ring 26 being afixed to the casing of the mine in any suitable manner as by welding. There is also provided preferably within the end of the mine casing an annular member 21 adapted tobe expanded by the bolt 23 thereby to reinforce the end of the casing and prevent damage or injury thereto durin the handling and transportation of the mine, and, if desired, the member 27 may be removed prior to the launching of the mine.

The cylindrical support I9 is formed at each end thereof as at 29, Figs. 2 and 3, and provided with a plurality of apertures 3i adapted to receive and support one end of the main support ing springs 32 having a plurality of tightly Wound convolutions of resilient nonmagnetic material suitable for the purpose such, for example, as Phosphor bronze, beryllium copper or the like formed with an initial set or preload whereby a predetermined degree of tension is required to be applied to the springs before the springs move from the initial set position thereof. The springs are arranged in two sets or groups, hereinafter referred to for the purpose of description as A and B respectively. The opposite end of each of the springs is connected to one of two cable members 33 respectively associated with the sets of springs A and B of suitable nonmagnetic material such, for example, as Phosphor bronze or the like at the looped portions 34 thereof formed by the cable clamps 35arranged about the cable in the manner indicated on the drawmgs.

The cables '33, it will be noted, also pass through the arcuately shaped hooks 36 formed on a plurality of supports 31 secured to the opposite sides of the supporting structure for the mine firing mechanism as by the bolts 38 and nuts 39 threaded thereon, each hook being preferably strengthened by a suitable rib 40 formed within the support. The cables 33 are also secured as by the screws 4| to a plurality of tabs 42 formed within the cylindrical support [9, the cables being maintained in continuous secured engagement with the tabs by reason of the provision of washers 43 intermediate the heads of the screws and the cables, the cables being provided with a plurality of clamps 35 thereby to form a plurality of loops within the cables within which each of the screws 4| is respectively arranged.

Each of the cable members is preferably composed of a single length of cable having the ends thereof secured to one of the tabs 42 in the manner illustrated on Fig. 2 although it will be understood that, if desired, the cable support may comprise several lengths of cable secured to the tabs 42 in such a manner that at least two tabs of each of the sets A and B support an end portion of two adjacent cables. There is also provided .a plurality of resilient springs 45 having ends adapted to engage the loop within the cable 33 connected to each of the main springs 32 whereby the direction of pull of the main springs is deilected from the plane of that portion of the cable intermediate the cable loop connected aromas thereto and the hook. supports: ontheminejfiring structure;

The mine firing mechanism 44. may be of any type such, for example, as the mine. firing mechanism disclosed in the. copending application or James B. Glennon and Chester M. Van Atta for E'iring mechanism for a submarine mine, Serial No. 395,230, filed May 26, 19.41 in which apivoted magnetic needle is adapted to be moved? to. a firing position by a predetermined. change in the. magnetic. field adjacent the mine and the firing. mechanism is rendered efiective bya suitable arming clock adapted to close a circuit. from a battery arranged within: the. chamber 45, Fig. 1, tothe mine firing control mechanism whena predetermined period. of time has. elapsed after the mine has. been launched. The arming clock is set in; operation by a suitable. hydrostat device arranged within a, recessed portion 41 of the, mine casing. The arming clock, battery, detonator and theaelectrical circuit connections employed for interconnecting these elementswith the mine firing controlmechanism are not; shown. on the drawings as theseelements form no part of the present invention.

The mine firing control mechanism 48, asheretoifore, stated, is yieldably supported by two sets of springs and cables A and B respectively arranged on opposite sides. of the structure, whereby the mine firing device. is yieldably maintained in a predetermined position with respectto the supportingsleeve [9; at all times except when a shockis received, this. position being determined by the resultant of the forces applied thereto by themain supporting springs 32, thecross springs 4,5,, the. cable 33 and the space relation of these elements with respect tov each other, aswill more clearly appear asthe, description. proceeds.

Theoperation of the resilient support comprising the sets of springs A and B in preventing damage or: injury to the mine firing control mechanismas the mine is launched from a mine laying craft will now be: described.

Letit, be assumed, by way of example, that the mine. is launched from an aircraft in flight at asufiiciently low altitude such that a mine parachute is not required. As the forward end of the mine strikes the surface of the Water, a violent shock is. received and the mine is. quickly decelerated. The mine firing mechanism 44. however,- is decelerated at a much slower rate than the mine by reason of the resilient support within which the firing mechanism is suspended. At the moment of impact of the mine against the surface of the water the mine firing device 44' moves forwardly with respect to the mine casing thereby increasing the tension applied to one of the cables 33; by the hook supports 36 of set A and decreasing the pressure applied to the other of the cables by the hoopsupportsof setB. Asthe tension within that portion of the cable 33 associated with set A increases the cross springs associated therewith are extended thereby bringing the main. supporting springs 32 ofset A more nearly into the plane of the. cable connected thereto without extending the main supporting springs.

. As the mine firing control device continues to move forward relative to the cylindrical member IS, the retarding force applied tothefiring control; device is transferred from the springs to-the-main. supporting springs32- of'set A- and concurrently therewith the mainv supporting springs are moved more nearly into the plane of that portion of the cable connected thereto.

6. When the: pull applied to; the springs 32' of set .52. exceeds. the. initial set or preload. of the springs, the main. supporting springs are; extended until the. mine. firing: control device 44 is: brought to. rest in 2. moved. position relative to the cylindrical member I9. The main supporting springs. 32, it will be. noted, are of greater strength than the. springs 45 and thus an arrangement is pro;- vided inwhich the initial retarding force. applied to: the firing control device. 44 is initially small. and quickly increases to relatively greater strength as the retarding force applied to. the cable 33"v is transferred from thev springs 45? to. the main supportingsprings. The transitionoiforce; from the. springs 4:5 to the main supporting: springsissomewhat gradual, there being a period: of overlap during the transition suflicient; to: insure an unbroken force of continuously increasing. strength applied to the cable until the firing; control device it is brought to rest inthe moved. position thereof with respect: to the cylindrical support l9.

. The. movement. of the firing control device. 44 from the initial position to the moved position causes the cable 33' of set A to slide within the hook supports 36' in such a manner that the relative rate'of movement of the main supportingsprings increases with the distance through which the mine firing structure has moved from the initial position thereof; The pressure and friction of the cable against the hook supports 36 is thusv employed to check the forward movement of the mine firing structure relative to the support 19. quickly and safely without damage tothe mine firing mechanism.

During the movement of themine firing structure from the initial position to the moved position, the mainsupporting springs 32" and cross springs 45 of set Bare caused to move inwardly by reason of the contraction of the springs 45 and the cable 33 associated with set B is caused? to slide through the hook members associated therewith as the springs of set B move inwardly; The springs 32 of set B do not contract duringthis time, however, for the reason that, as here toforestated, the convolutions of the main supporting springs are tightly wound.

When the firingcontrol device .4 has been brought to rest momentarily at the completion of its forward travel with respect to the mine, the energy stored within the springs 32 and 45- of set A- causes the firing" control device to be moved reversely to a position corresponding substantially to the-initial position of the firing con-- trol device. During the reversemovement of the firi'ngcontrol device toward the initial position springs 4'5 of set B areextended thereby increasing the pressure of the cable 33 of set B against the hook supports as the firing control device approaches the initial position sufliciently to cause the firing control device to come to rest in a final position substantially coincident with the initial position without subsequent vibration and without damage or injury thereto.

Asthe-springs 45 of set B are extended during the-reverse movement of the firing mechanism toward the-initial position, the supporting springs 32 of set A are contracted and the springs 45 associated therewith are contracted inoverlap relation with respect to the contraction of the springs 3-2- and for a period of time thereafter suifici'ent to move'the springs 32 inwardly to the position shown on Fig. 3 of the drawings. The p'ressureoftheA cable against the hook members, it will -be -understood, is thus rapidly decreased during the time that the pressure of the B cable against the associated hook members is increased and thus the retardation force applied to the firing mechanism is caused to increase at such a rate that the mine firing mechanism moves into a final position substantially coincident with the initial position thereof without substantial overthrow or movement of the firing control mechanism past the initial position, and the firing control mechanism comes torest in the final position after a single forward and reverse movement therefrom.

' In the event that, for any reason, the mine should strike sidewise against the surface of a body of water, the sidewise movement of the firing control device 44 relative to the casing of the mine causes an increase in the tension of the portions of the cables A and B connected to the main supporting springs 32 extending rearwardly and normal to the path of travel of the mine at the moment of impact thereby elongating these main supporting springs and the pairs of springs 45 of the A and 13 sets extending rearwardly from the firing control unit 44 with respect to the aforesaid path of travel of the mine and thus the retardation force applied to the firing control unit by the cable 33 is controlled by either four or six main supporting springs, as the case may be, in accordance with the direction of the shock with respect to the rotation of the spring mountmg.

- Let, it be assumed, by way of example, that the spring mounting including the cylindrical support it therefor is in the position shown on Fig. 3 when the mine strikes the water sidewise such that the side of the mine adjacent the lowermost portion of the sleeve is strikes the water. When this occurs, the mine firing control unit 44 continues to move downward thereby withdrawing the main supporting springs 32 extending at substantially a right angle from the line of travel of the mine toward the firing control unit by reason of the movement of the spring hooks 36 arranged about the cable 33 intermediate the main supporting springs and the upper pair of tabs 42 to which the cable is connected. As the main supporting springs are drawn inwardly by the aforesaid cable, the pressure of the cable against the hook members causes the mine firing mechanism to be quickly decelerated and brought to rest relative to the support 19, the deceleration being assisted by the upper pair of main supporting springs 32 and the cables secured thereto. Whereas on Fig. 3 there are shown two main supporting springs 32 extending at a right angle to the line of travel of the mine, in the assumed example, it will be understood that in reality there are four springs 32 extending at a right angle to the aforesaid line of travel of which two only are shown on Fig. 3 for the reason that Fig. 3 is a sectional View in elevation taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 showing only a portion of the complete device. The movement of the mine firing mechanism downwardly with respect to the casing of the mine causes the upper Springs 45 of the A and B sets to be extended concurrently with the elongation of the side supporting springs and the friction between the cables and the hook members secured to the mine firing mechanism to be increased. By securing the cables to the tabs 42 and arranging the tabs in the manner herein disclosed, the downward movement of the mine firing control mechanism also changes the angle of the cables with respect to the direction pf movement of the firing control mechanism whereby the snubbing action of the cables against the clamps is increased in proportion to the degree of the downward movement of the mine firing control mechanism within the supporting sleeve I9. In the example assumed the'force of deceleration applied to the firing control device 44 is controlled by the four laterally extending main supporting springs and the two main supporting springs shown at the upper portion of Fig. 3 in addition to the four springs 45 extending upwardly from the four lateral main supporting springs.

As the mine firing control mechanism 44 moves downward with respect to the casing of the mine the lower pair of main supporting springs 32 and the two pairs of springs 45 connected thereto are moved in a direction to remove tension from the lower portion of the cables 33 extending up wardly from the lower tabs 42 to the springs.

When the downward movement of the firing control mechanism 44 with respect to the casing of the mine has been arrested the energy stored within the laterally extending springs 32 and the upper springs 32 combined with'the energy stored in the upper springs 45 causes the mine firing control mechanism to be quickly restored to a final position substantially coincident with the initial position thereof. During the return of the firing control mechanism from the moved position to the final position the tension in the upper portion of the cables 33 is reduced and the tension in the lower portion of the cables is increased thereby bringing the mine firing mechani'sm to rest in the final position at the completion of the movement from the moved position thereof withoutsubstantial jar of sufiicient in-' tensity to damage or injure the firing control mechanism and without subsequent vibration or oscillation of the firing control mechanism.

. In the event that the mine should fall on the surface of the water on its side at an angle of forty-five degrees with respect to the position shown on Fig. 2 of the drawings, the decelerating force applied to the firing control unit 44 by the cable 33 durin movement thereof from the initial position to the moved position is controlled by'four upper supporting springs 32 and the s rings 45 connected thereto, the upper springs 45 and 32 expanding until movement of the firing control mechanism relative to the tubular member I9 is arrested and the lower springs 32 being drawn closer together by the contraction of the lower springs 45 connected thereto. When themine firing unit has reached the limit of its-travel downward with respect to the sleeve I9, theenergy stored in the upper springs 32 and springs 45 connected thereto causes the mine firing control unit to be moved upward. to a. final position substantially coincident with the initial position of the unit 44.

. During the return movement of the firing control unit 44 from the limit of its travel downward to the final position the lower springs 45.ar.e extended to the position shown on the drawings, the four lower supporting springs 32 servingadditionally to increase the tension of the lower portion of the A and B cables sufficiently to bring the mine firing control unit to rest at the completion of the return of the upward movement from't-he moved position thereof without a sudden stop or jar of sufiicient intensity to damage the firing control mechanism and without causing the firing control mechanism to be addition: ally vibrated. From the foregoing description it .willbeape parent that the device of the present invention is adapted to support the firing control mechanism of a mine yieldably in such a manner that the firing control mechanism is quickly decelerated from an initial position to a moved position with a deceleratin' force proportional to the degree of movement of the firing control mechanism from the initial position and to return the mine firing control mechanism immediately thereafter to a final position substantially coincident with the initial position thereof without damage or injury to the firing control mechanism regardless of the angular position of the mine at the moment of impact with the surface of the water.

Whereas in the foregoing example the operation of the device has been described with particular reference to a mine released from an aircraft in flight at an altitude sufficiently low such that a parachute is not required with the mine, it will be understood that the mine may, if desired, be provided with a parachute and released from an aircraft at a considerably higher altitude. When released from an aircraft at the higher altitude, the mine receives a sudden jolt or shock as the parachute opens and a second shock or violent jar as the mine strikes the surface of a body of water and a third shock as the mine strikes against the bed of the body of water. In the event that the mine is released from the torpedo tube of a submerged submarine, the mine receives a shock as the mineis ejected from the torpedo tube. Regardless of the method employed for launching the mine within the water, the mine firing control mechanism is protected from damage or injury thereto by the resilient supporting device disclosed and claimed herein, the device operating to cushion or decelerate the firing control mechanism in each case generally in the manner described in the foregoing example.

Briefly stated in summary, the present invention contemplates the provision of means for yieldably mounting an instrument such as a mine firing control device Within the casing of a mine such that the instrument remains undamaged when the mine is dropped from an aircraft in flight, released from a mine layer, or discharged through the torpedo tube of a submerged submarine, in which the deceleration of the instrument is obtained by the movement of a pair of flexible supporting cables arranged within apertured members operatively connected to the instrument and a plurality of groups of resilient springs connected to the cables at predetermined points thereon and to a fixed supporting member whereby the tension and friction of the cable against certain of the apertured members is progressively increased in proportion to the degree of movement of the instrument from the initial position thereof and the tension and friction of the cable against others of the apertured members is increased progressively during the reverse movement of the instrument to a final position.

While there is shown and described herein a certain preferred embodiment of the invention, many other and varied forms and uses will present themselves to those versed in the art without departing from the invention, and. the invention, therefore, is not limited either in structure or in. use except as indicated by the-terms and scope of the appended claims.

The invention herein described and claimed may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A marine mine having an explosive charge therein, means including a mine firing device adapted to explode the explosive charge, a rigid support within said mine, a pair of flexible cables slideably connected to said mine firing device adapted to support the device yieldably in a predetermined initial position within said support, a plurality of fixed members arranged on said support to which the cables are secured, and means including a plurality of resilient members connected to said rigid support and said cables adapted to increase the tension of the cables progressively during the movement of the mine firing device from said initial position as a shock is received by the mine.

2. In a device of the character disclosed for yieldably supporting a mass, a pair of flexible cables slideably connected to said mass, a cylindrical support arranged about the mass and having a plurality of devices to which the cables are connected, a plurality of springs secured to said cables and the support adapted to apply a predetermined degree of tension to said cables, and a plurality of additional springs adapted to apply sufiicient additional tension to said cables to suspend the mass yieldably in a predetermined initial position within said support.

3. In a device of the character disclosed for yieldably supporting a mine firing control mechanism within a mine, in combination, a casing for said mine, a cylindrical support arranged within said casing and secured thereto within which the mine firing mechanism is yieldably arranged, a plurality of supporting springs secured to the ends .of said cylindrical support, a plurality of tabs circumferentially arranged. Within the cylindrical support equal in number to the number of said supporting springs, a plurality of brackets arranged on opposite sides. of said mine firing control mechanism, a pairof flexible cables slideably arranged Within said brackets and secured to said tabs and said supporting springs, and a plurality of additional springs operatively connected to the inner ends of said supporting springs adapted to apply a predetermined tension to said cables when the device is in a state of rest.

4. A'device'of the character disclosed for yieldably supporting a mass comprising a cylindrical member within which the mass is arranged and adapted to move in any direction relative thereto, a pair of flexible cables secured at intervals to said cylindrical member, a plurality of supports secured to the mass, each of said supports having an arcuate portion therein within which one of the cables is arranged, a plurality ofsupporting springs connected at opposite ends thereof to said cables and to the cylindrical member respectively, and a plurality of resilient devices adapted to urge the inner ends of said supporting springs a plurality of supporting springs secured at .op--

posite"ends thereof. to said outer supporting 11 member and to said flexible cables respectively for yieldably supporting said mass, and means including a plurality of relatively Weak springs adapted to urge said supporting springs inwardly whereby the initial movement of the mass from a predetermined initial position thereof within the outer supporting member causes movement of the cables within said brackets and the relatively weak springs to increase the friction and tension of the cables against the brackets during said movement and the supporting springs additionally to increase the friction and tension of the cables against the brackets when the mass has moved a predetermined distance from said initial position.

6. A device of the character disclosed for yieldably supporting a mass in an initial position, in combination, a group of preloaded helical springs adapted to support the" mass, a group of relatively weak springs operatively connected to said preloaded springs, a plurality of arcuate brackets secured to said mass, a pair of flexible cables slideably arranged within said arcuate brackets on opposite sides of the mass, a fixed support, means for securing the cables at intervals to said fixed support, said helical springs and said relatively weak springs whereby the friction and tension of the cables against the arcuate brackets are increased at a predetermined rate in accordance with the degree of movement of the relatively weak springs as the mass moves to a predetermined moved position and at a more rapid rate as the mass moves beyond said moved position.

'7. A resilient support for a mass comprising a cylindrical member, two sets of supporting springs secured to said cylindrical member, a pair of flexible cables, means for connecting said cables respectively at intervals in. alternate interspersed relation to the cylindrical member and to said sets of supporting springs, a plurality of groups of supporting devices secured to said mass having arcuate portions therein within which the respective cables are disposed, each of the supporting devices being arranged intermediate a portion of a cable connected to said cylindrical member and a portion of the cable connected to a supporting spring, and a plurality of tension members connected to the sup porting springs of each of said sets and to said cables respectively whereby the tension members and supporting springs operate selectively in accordance with the direction in which a shock is received by said cylindrical member.

8. A resilient support of the character described for yieldabl suspending a mass, a pin rality of arcuately shaped hook members secured to said mass, a pair of flexible cables arranged within said hook members, a fixed.

sion to said cables at predetermined intervalsthereof whereby the tension and friction of the cables against certain of the hook members are increased during the movement of the mass from an-initial position in response to "a shock received by the fixed support and the" tension and a friction of the cables against the remaining hook'.

members are increased during the return move-' ment of the mass toward said initial position.

9. In a shock absorbing device of the character:

disclosed, in combination, a mass, means including a plurality of springs and cables for yieldably supporting said mass in an initial position, friction means including certain ones of said plurality of cables and responsive to changes in the tension of certain ones of said plurality of springs for yieldably checking the movement of the mass within a predetermined distance from said initial position as a shock is received by the shock absorbing device, and friction means including other ones of said plurality of cables and responsive to changes in the tension ofthe other ones of said pluralit of springs for quickly restoring the mass to a position substantially coin-' cident with said initial position without subse-' quent vibration or oscillation of the mass.

10. In a resilient support for the suspension of a mass, the combination of a plurality of sets of friction devices secured to the mass, a pair of determined intervals within the cables on opposite sides of each of said friction devices, a rigid support having an aperture therein within which the mass is yieldably supported by said flexible cables for movement in any direction, means for securing alternate ones of the loops of each of f the cables to said support in predetermined space relation with respect to said friction devices, a

plurality of preloaded resilient tension members secured at opposite ends thereof to the remaining loops of each of the cables and to'said rigid support respectively thereby to apply a prede-' termined tension to the cables when the support is in a state of rest and yieldably suspend the mass within the support, and a plurality of additional tension members operatively connected to said flexible cables at the looped portions thereof 4 to'which said preloaded tension members are connected thereby to urge the preloaded tension members yieldably in a direction to increase the tension applied to the cables by'said preloaded tension members.

11. In a submarine mine, the combination of a mine casing, a cylindrical support arranged within said casing, a mine firing mechanism adapted to be moved in any direction within said cylindrical support, a plurality of tightly wound preloaded main supporting springs secured at one end thereof to said cylindrical support, a plurality of relatively weak springs operatively connected to the other'end of each of said main supporting springs and adapted to urge the main supporting springs toward the axis of said cylindrical mem-- her, a plurality of sets of brackets secured to the mine firing mechanism on opposite sides thereof;

each of said brackets having an arcuate portion therein, a pair of flexible cables respectively arranged within the arcuate portions of the brackets of each of said sets on opposite sides of the mine,

firing mechanism and having a plurality of loops formed therein respectively intermediate each pair of brackets, means for securing alternate ones of the loops of each of the cables to said cylindrical support, and means for securing the-- remaining ones of the loops of each of the cables to' said supporting springs and relatively weak springs whereby the friction and pressure of the"- cables against certain of the brackets is increased as a shock is received by the cylindrical support .sufiiciently to arrest the movement of the mine firing mechanism within a predetermined dis tance from the initial position thereof with re spect to the cylindrical member and quickly restore the mine firing mechanism to a position substantially coincident with said initial position after a single movement therefrom.

12. :In a device for yieldably supporting an instrument, two sets of brackets arranged on opposite-sides of the instrument-adapted to receive a flexible cable slideably arranged therein, a pair of continuous flexible cables respectively arranged within each of said sets of brackets, each of said cables having a plurality of looped portions respectively arranged intermediate each adjacent pair of brackets, a cylindrical support within which the instrument is yieldably suspended, means for securing alternate looped portions of each of said cables to said cylindrical support, a plurality of main supporting preloaded springs respectively secured to the remaining looped portions of said cables and to said cylindrical support, and means including a plurality of relatively weak springs connected to adjacent ones of said remaining looped portions of the cables for yieldably urging the inner ends of said main preloaded springs toward the axis of the cylindrical support whereby the relatively weak springs are extended and the friction of the cables against the brackets is increased as the cables slide within the brackets in response to movement of the instrument through a predetermined distance from an initial position thereof within the support and the friction of the cables against the brackets is additionally increased as the main preloaded springs are extended in overlapping relation with respect to the extension of the weaker springs during the movement of the instrument through an additional distance from said initial position.

13. In a resilient support of the character disclosed, the combination of a mass having a plurality of supporting brackets arranged thereon, a rigid member having an aperture therein within which the mass is yieldably supported for movement in any direction, a pair of flexible cables slideably arranged within said brackets and secured at intervals to said rigid member, a plurality of preloaded supporting springs secured at opposite ends thereof to said rigid member and to said flexible cables respectively for yieldably supporting the mass in an initial position within the rigid member, and means including a plurality of relatively weak springs adapted to urge said supporting springs inwardly whereby the friction of the flexible cables against the brackets increases progressively in accordance with the degree of movement of the mass from said initial position in response to a shock received by said rigid member.

14.. A resilient support of the character disclosed for yieldably suspending a mass, a plurality of arcuate hook members secured to said mass, a pair of flexible cables arranged within said hook members, a fixed support within which the mass is adapted to move, a plurality of devices for securing the cables at intervals to said fixed support in predetermined spaced relation with respect to said hook members, and means including a plurality of retractile springs connected to said cables and to said fixed support adapted to cause relative movement of the cables with respect to said hook members concurrently with an increase in the friction of the cables against the hookmembers as the mass is moved relative to' the fixed support.

- '15. In a resilient support of the character disclosed, the combination of a mass having a plurality of hook members arranged in two sets secured thereto, two flexible cables respectively threaded through each set of hook members and arranged in loops, each of the cables having a plurality :of smaller looped portions formed therein respectively arranged between each adjacent pair of hook members of each of said sets, a fixed support within which the mass is adapted to move in any direction, said fixed support hav-' ing a plurality of devices for securing alternate ones of the looped portions of each of said cables thereto in predetermined space relation with respect to said hook members, a plurality of preloaded resilient retractile springs operatively connected at one end to the remaining looped portions of each of said loops of cable and at the other end thereof to said fixed support, and a plurality of relatively weaker springs operatively connected at opposite ends thereof to the inner ends of adjacent ones of said preloaded springs thereby to deflect the retractile springs sufiiciently to apply a predetermined tension to each of said cables sufiicient to suspend the mass yieldably in a predetermined initial position within said fixed support.

16. In a shock absorbing device of the character disclosed for resiliently supporting a mass, the combination of means including a plurality of springs and cables for yieldably supporting said mass in an initial position, and friction means including said plurality of cables and responsive to changes in the tension of said plurality of springs for yieldably checking movement of the mass away from and back to said initial position thereof as the mass moves in response to a shock received by the shock absorbing device.

17. In a shock absorbing device of the character disclosed for resiliently supporting a mass, the combination of a support, resilient means secured to the support for yieldably supporting said mass in an initial position relative to the support, a plurality of cables interconnecting said resilient means and said mass, said cables being arranged to move selectively in response to changes in tension of said resilient means caused by movement of the mass relative to said support, and a plurality of friction means carried by the mass and slidably engaged respectively with said cables for snubbing coaction therewith as the cables move slidably with respect thereto thereby to check the movement of the mass within predetermined limits as the mass moves from said initial position in response to a shock received by the mass.

18. A shock absorbing device for resiliently supporting a mass comprising, a plurality of springs for yieldably supporting said mass in an initial position, a plurality of cables interconnecting said springs and said mass, and a plurality of friction elements arranged respectively for snubbing coaction with said plurality of cables and secured to the mass for respectively connecting said plurality of cables slidably with respect to the mass thereby to check the movement of the cables selectively within predetermined limits in accordance with the direction of movement of the mass away from and back to the initial position in response to a shock received by the mass.

19. A shock absorbing device for resiliently supporting a mass comprising, in combination, spring means flexibly supporting said mass for free movement yieldably in any direction away from an initial position, a plurality of flexible cables interconnecting said spring means and mass, and a plurality of friction means respectively arranged for slidable snubbing coaction with said cables as the cables move upon flexing of said spring means when the mass moves away from or toward said initial position thereby to prevent movement of the mass beyond predetermined limits with respect to said initial position when a shock is received by the mass.

JOSEPH D. TURLAY.

16 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Crout Apr. 14,1942 

